Preview US Open ATP & WTA Day Eight: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jessica Pegula lead line-up

Day Eight of the 2025 US Open is set to continue on Sunday 31 August with Jessica Pegula, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz with the first Quarter-Finals to be set to begin the second week.

As well as that trio, Elena Rybakina will face Marketa Vondrousova in the night session on Arthur Ashe as the US Open continues with only eight singles ties on the Sunday. Our preview looks ahead to the main ties which also include Aryna Sabalenka and Taylor Fritz who will play elsewhere on Louis Armstrong instead of Arthur Ashe on Sunday.

Pegula and Alcaraz headline Day Session

In regards to the Day Session on Arthur Ashe, it is Jessica Pegula like Coco Gauff yesterday who opens proceedings with an American in the prime opener. Albeit perhaps done for a reason like Gauff and that is to get people in early before the big matches on paper of the night.

Pegula hasn't faced a blip yet but is always intriguing as she has not had a great few months despite reaching the final last year. But she has made light work of her campaign so far including Victoria Azarenka in the last round. Ann Li is a surprise name in the Last 16 but one that has a win over Pegula for albeit all the way back in 2018. That was at an ITF USA 24A tournament where Li won the semi-final.

Both have gone very different directions since then and met last at the French Open back in May where Pegula triumphed in the second round. Pegula though often has a blip in her as of late so whether she comes through this one unscathed remains to be seen. An interesting proposition for sure.

Match Info: Jessica Pegula - Ann Li

Start time (local): Sun, 31 Aug, 11:30 AM

Start time (your time): Sun, 31 Aug, 11:30 PM

Court: Arthur Ashe Stadium

Tournament: US Open

Round: Round of 16

Head-to-Head

	Pegula	Li
H2H Record
Total Wins	1	1
Win Streak	1	0
Ranking
Official Ranking	4	58
Race Ranking	8	43
Live Ranking
Live Ranking	9 (-5)	44 (+14)
Live Race Ranking	8	36 (+7)
Bios
Age	31 (24 Feb 1994)	25 (26 Jun 2000)
Birthplace	Buffalo, New York, US	-
Residence	Boca Raton, Florida, US	-
Height	5'6" (170cm)	-
Weight	154lbs (70kg)	-
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)	Right
Turned Pro	2012	-
Coach	Mark Knowles, Mark Merklein (2024–)	-
YTD W/L	38-16 (70%)	24-19 (56%)
YTD Titles	3	-
Career Titles	9	-
Prize Money	US$ 18,681,669 - 29th in all-time rankings	-
Past Meetings
J Pegula d A Li French Open - Round of 64 6-3 | 7-6 29 May 2025
A Li d J Pegula ITF USA 24A - Semifinal 2-6 | 6-3 | 6-4 4 Aug 2018

Carlos Alcaraz took down Luciano Darderi last round in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 win. But it was far from easy at the start as he dropped serve for the first time and had to take a medical timeout. He said it was merely for precaution but he faces Arthur Rinderknech, a known spoiler who will take advantage if there is any frailty.

Alcaraz though has a 3-0 record against Rinderknech albeit mostly at Queen's where he has two wins. He also has beaten him at the US Open back in 2021 sealing it 7-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

So very much advantage Alcaraz but taking sets off him before Rinderknech won't make it easy for him to thrive amid the weight of the expectation that he will continue his run into the Quarter-Fnals.

Djokovic, Rybakina headline Night Session

Novak Djokovic was a real doubt during his match against Cameron Norrie whether he would be on the receiving end of a shock. He had a back issue and had to take a medical timeout and then lost the set. But as Norrie started to fade, Djokovic managed to get over the line.

Jan-Lennard Struff is an interesting complexion as the German has seen off Holger Rune and Frances Tiafoe so far this week after coming through qualifying. He is very much on a free roll and at the age of 35, it is very much a veterans clash and one that has been edged before a lot by Djokovic who has a 7-0 Head-to-Head record. He won first all the way back in 2017 in Doha albeit they mostly played between 2020 and 2021 and haven't played since Djokovic has become more of a faded power.

Match Info: Novak Djokovic - Jan-Lennard Struff

Start time (local): Sun, 31 Aug, 7:00 PM

Start time (your time): Mon, 1 Sep, 7:00 AM

Court: Arthur Ashe Stadium

Tournament: US Open

Round: Round of 16

Head-to-Head

	Djokovic	Struff
H2H Record
Total Wins	7	0
Win Streak	7	0
Ranking
Official Ranking	7	144
Race Ranking	5	129
Live Ranking
Live Ranking	6 (+1)	98 (+46)
Live Race Ranking	5	90 (+49)
Bios
Age	38 (22 May 1987)	35 (25 Apr 1990)
Birthplace	Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia	Warstein, West Germany
Residence	Belgrade, Serbia,Monte Carlo, Monaco,Athens, Greece	-
Height	6'2" (188cm)	6'5" (196cm)
Weight	170lbs (77kg)	203lbs (92kg)
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned Pro	2003	2009
Coach	Andy Murray	Marvin Netuschil
YTD W/L	28-8 (78%)	16-22 (42%)
YTD Titles	1	-
Career Titles	100 (3rd in the Open Era)	1
Prize Money	US $ 188,934,053 -  1st all-time in earnings	US $11,720,147
Past Meetings
N Djokovic d J Struff Davis Cup - 6-2 | 6-4 27 Nov 2021
N Djokovic d J Struff Olympic Tournament - Round of 32 6-4 | 6-3 26 Jul 2021
N Djokovic d J Struff US Open - Round of 32 6-3 | 6-3 | 6-1 4 Sep 2020
N Djokovic d J Struff ATP Cincinnati - Quarterfinal 6-3 | 6-1 26 Aug 2020
N Djokovic d J Struff Australian Open - Round of 128 7-6 | 6-2 | 2-6 | 6-1 20 Jan 2020
N Djokovic d J Struff French Open - Round of 16 6-3 | 6-2 | 6-2 3 Jun 2019
N Djokovic d J Struff ATP Doha - Round of 32 7-6 | 6-3 2 Jan 2017

Elena Rybakina follows on with a tie against Marketa Vondrousova in a battle of former Wimbledon champions. Rybakina is perhaps one of the main dark horses in this tournament given the way she thrashed Emma Raducanu - who herself has been in good form as of late.

She also saw off Aryna Sabalenka recently in Cincinnati so shows she has the sauce to see off the big names at the moment in the sport. Back with Stefano Vukov whether contentious or not, it is very much a partnership that has thrived in the past and can again. Next is Marketa Vondrousova who has been healthy for a little while which has been the main thing and she now gets to tussle with Rybakina with a 1-1 record in their Head-to-Head. Rybakina won their last meeting in 2023 in Rome.